Signal head-light



(No Model.) 2 Shaejzs-Shetl.

W. ARMSTRONG.

SIGNAL HEAD LIGHT.

No. 279,072. Patented June 5,1883.

N. PETERS, Pholo-Lnhcguphen Washinghan, o. c.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W ARMSTRONG.

SIGNAL HEAD LIGHT.

Patented June 5, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, or MARTINSBURG, WEsT VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO nAvin M. NEWBOLD, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SIGNAL HEAD==LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,072, dated June 5, 1883.

Application filed November 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM ARMsTRoNo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Head- Lights; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the general class of signaldights, and more particularly to the headlights of railway-locomotives. V 7

It is well known that upon most railroads a colored signal is displayed on every locomotive ofa convoy oftrains, except the last, to indicate that another trainfollows. This signal is usual ly a red flag by day and a red light by night. Until the production of the locomotive headlight patented to Michael Nicholson, May 20, 1879, and March 5,), 1880, under Nos. 215,656 and 225,299, respectively, this red light was displayed by lanterns placed on the locomotive upon either side of the head-light. In those patents the red light is described as displayed by means of red bulls-eyes in the sides of the rim ofthe head-light window. Broadly, therefore, I do not claim to have invented a loc0- motive head-light with side bullseyes in the headlight rim, but to have improved the means for so displaying the red or other colored lights from the head-light window. within the control of the engineer inside the cab, as will more fully appear hereinafter. I also arrange my devices so that a clear white light may be shown from sides as well as front. So, also, have I invented means for displaying the red flag, as well as the white flag, when required, by day, and for concealing either by a device within the control of the engineer within the cab and by the same prime operating device that acts to change the lights by night. Not necessarily is the changing means operated by the engineer within the cab, as a device just back of the head-light may answer.

Briefly describing my improvements, I pro vide within the window-rim of the head-light, having side bull s-eyes of white glass, a concentric ring provided with colored-glass disks and with unglazed openings, and operated in such manner that when the colored-glass disks shall have been brought opposite the inner openings of the side white bulls-eyes a colored light is shown, and so that when said ring is again moved to bring said openings oppo site the side bulls-eyes the usual white light is shown both from front and sides. I also provide stationary caps or covering-shields, suitably arranged inside the head-light window-rim to cover the colored disks when not in use, whereby the said disks are prevented from reflecting their color within the headlight window while the white light is shown. This is important, as upon some roads the display of a white light or of a white flag is an indication that all is right.

I shall hereinafter particularly describe the construction and operation of the said invention, and specifically claim what is of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a locomotivehead-ligl'lt embracing my improvements;

Fig. 2, a view in perspective, looking to the front from the inside of the headlight; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line 00 w of Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a section on the line y y of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a detail of the operatingcrank upon the wall of the cab.

. The body or case A of the head-light and the reflector B are substantially the same as those ordinarily used, of the same construction, v

and glazed, as usual. At either side of the rim 0 of the head-light case abulls-eye, a, of white glass, is inserted in a conical projection, a, as shown. These conelike projections to are inclined at a frontward angle, opening into the rim with an ellipsoidal open bottom. Revolir ble within the said rim, and operated in any suitable manner, is a concentric ring, D, provided with colored annular glass, panes b, usuallyred, and also with'openings c, of a shape similar to that of the open bottoms of the bulls-eye projections a, as above. The design is that by suitable devices the said inner concentric ring, 1), may be turned so as to bring the red panes b to the inner open bottoms of the bulls-eyes, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This done, a red light is thrown through I find that a direct light from the reflector upon the panes transmitted through the white IOO - rmmik bulls-eye is more efiective than when sent direct through a red bulls-eye. Besides, this construction gives the advantage of displaying side white lights, (used upon some roads,) since by a reverse movement of the ring D the ellipsoidal openings of the ring are brought opposite those of the projections a, carrying the bulls-eyes, and a white light is shown, as in Fig. 4. At ascertained points caps or shields d, held by arms 6, or in any suitable manner, to the inner side of the head-light case, serve to conceal and cover the red panes within the ring-space and prevent any reflection of their color when the white light is shown. This always takes place as the oppo site movements of the revoluble ring are ascertained to bring either the red panes or the openings, as the case may be, opposite the bulls-eye opening in the rim of the casing.

These movements are determined by suitable stops. This inner ring is also provided wit-h a slot, f, through which the front red-signal pane, 9, drops by gravity 011 its pivot in the upper casing, 71, when the red lights are dis played, and which, upon the return or upward movement of the revoluble ring, is caused thereby to rise into the casing on its pivot, or is shoved back into concealment when a white light is shown.

Preferably I cause the ring D to be turned by a cogged carrying-rim, E, working between anti-friction rolls h h in brackets from the body, as shown in Fig. 2. Only sectors of this ring need be cogged where it engages with a rack, 7;, which is fixed to or integral with asliding bar, F, working in suitable bearings 011 the upper inner side of the head-light body or case above this cogged rim. The said cogged rim is operated by pinion G, with which it gears, turned by a rod or crank, H, within the control of the engineer within the cab, or, as above stated, from a crank j ust back of the head-light case, as may be desired.

Upon each corner front of the head-light or case, upon the outside, are metallic tubes I, carrying one a roller, 01, for a red flag and the other that for a white flag. These are attached one end to their rollers and the other to a carrying-rod, 7, secured to the sliding bar F, above described. The action of the parts is such that as that end of the sliding bar carrying the red flag is moved outward it unrolls the red flag through slot on on said tube,while at the same time this movement of the sliding bar withdraws the white flag, allowing it to coil and conceal itself through slot m within its tube or case. The coiling of the flags is effected by weighted cords attached to the rollers, or a spring automatically winds the flag within its tube.

The movements of the cogged ring are controlled by stops 9 p thereon meeting in the opposite movements one of the castings which carry the anti-friction rolls or other suitable device.

The rod or crank which turns the operatingpinion above mentioned is within the control of the engineer within the cab, preferably, and in such case, when a red light is shown, for instance, the crank K, Fig. 5, is against a stop, 1 upon the wall of the cab, and is held in such position by a spring-catch, s, which has to be released before the turn can be made to show the white signal.

It will be understood that the same movements of devices which display red lights display also a red flag, and by an opposite movement white lights and awhite flag. The flags need not necessarily be fixed in their tubes on the head-light, but may be in any convenient position on the locomotive, so that they connect with operating mechanism substantially in the maimer set forth.

I claim 1. In a locomotive head-light or similar signal, the combination, with the outer project ing rim, 0, or window-casing, provided with the bulls-eyes a a at each side, of an inner concentric revoluble ring, D, provided with colored panes b and ellipsoidal openings 0, and means for operating said ring with respect to said openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a locomotive headlight or similar signal, the combination, with the outer projecting rim, 0, or window-casing, provided wit-h the bulls-eyes a a at each side, of an inner concentric ring provided with colored panes b, ellipsoidal openings 0, and a slot, f, of a front signal-pane, g, and means for operating said ring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a locomotive head-light or similar signal the combination, with the outer projecting rim, 0, provided with the 'bulls-eyes a" a at each side, of an inner concentric ring provided with colored panes b, and of shields or covering-caps d at ascertained points, and means for operating said revoluble ring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, in a locomotive headlight or other signal, of the outer rim, 0, provided with bulls-eyes a. a, the inner concen tric ring, D, provided with colored panes b and ellipsoidal openings 0, and a cogged ring, E, for operating the same, substantially as set forth. u

5. The combinatiomin a locomotive headlight, of the flag-holding tubes I, the sliding bar F, provided with its rack, and the cogged ring E, operated substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in apparatus for loco motive-signaling, of tubes carrying respectively a red anda white flag, with means for operating the same in such manner as that when one flag is displayed the other is concealed.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my nature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG.

Vitnesses:

XVM. S. HENSHAW, GEORGE F. Evans. 

